Machine



Au-g- 1929- w. E. NEWNAM 1,724,304

I PIG LEAD STACKING MACHINE 1.- m ii V ii a H E Z0 i I i 6.3 if i 1/ r.3 a? g If 2 &1 ii a Jam fifzz/xwfi/fiwnnm Patented Aug. 13,1929.

UNITED STATES laziest ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. NEWNAM, OF COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR -TO NATIONAL LEADCOMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF -1\TZEW JERSEY.

PIG-LEAD-STACKING MACHINE.

Application filed July so, 1923, Serial No. 654,688. ne eweanece ber21,1927.

This invention relates to stacking machines, and more particularly tomachines for stacking pig lead and similar articles.

In the manufacture of pig lead, it is customary to run the molten leadinto molds to form the same into so-called pigs. The

molded pigs may thereafter be removed from the molds and deposited in;some convenient place for storage. As the pigs are quite heavy, it is anexpensive operation to remove them from the molds and stack them byhand. Furthermore the pig molding is often done by mechanism'in whichthe molds are arrangedin gangs so that it is convenient to provide forhandling the pigs in gangs by mechanism which will remove them from themolds and stack them for storage. 1

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a machinewhich may be used to remove a casting of pigs from the molds and de ositthe same for storage.

Another ob ect of this invention is to pro vide such a machine which isconvenient to handle and certain in its operation.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in, elevation showing a pig'stacking machineembodying this invention; 1

Figure 2 is an enlarged end View of the grasping mechanism; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the claws.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, 1 designates an up-right orstandard which maybe mountedin a suitable floor socket 2 and supportedby braces 3 and 4 secured to the wall or other convenient support. Apair of collars 5 and 6 fixed to the standard 1 is adapted to support apair of swivel connections 7 and 8 mounted to turn on the standard 1 andsupporting a bracket or frame 9. The frame 9 carries at its outer end apneumatic lifting cylinder 10. The cylinder 10 thus mounted is adaptedto swing about the standard 1 so as to be capable of being positionedfor lifting the 0 pigs from the molds and thereafter being moved to aposition for placing the pigs in i a suitable stack. 7

The'piston rod 11 of the lifting cylinder 10 carries at its lower'end anauxiliary air cylinder 12. zsuspended by bolts 13 from' the cylinder 12is acarrier comprisinga top plate 14:, end plates 15 and side plates 16conconnected at its lower end to a cross-head 19 adapted to movevertically in guide slots 20 in the end plates 15. Theupward and,

downward movement of the piston rod 18 will, therefore, cause acorresponding move ment of the cross-head 19 in the guide slots 20. s

The cross-head? 19 has formed thereon or attached thereto a series ofears 21 extending downwardly therefrom. Each one of the ears 21 haspivoted thereto apair of links 22, each jointed atits other end to oneof a pair of levers '23. The levers 23 of each pair cross a shortdistance from the ends to which the links 22' are connected, and eachlever pair is pivoted on a pair ofupright standards 25 mounted on theframe 17. The pivot bolt-24L passes through both levers 23 of a pair aswell as the standards 25, so that the levers 23 are pivoted to eachother at this point as well as to the standard. Each lever 23 isweighted at the outer end of its longarm with a weight 26 formedintegral with'or attachedto the lever. The weighted arm of eachlever isprovided with a socket 27 adapted to receive a pick or claw 28 pro videdwith a sharpened point 29 and fixed in the socket 271 by means of aset-screw 30 or other suitable means. The claw 28 has its movement ofthe cross-head'19 willlcause the. links 22 to move the short arms of thelevers 23 downward y so as to raise the long weighted arms thereof, asindicated in dotted lines in this figure. Correspondingly an upwardmovement of the cross-head" 19 will permit the weighted ends of thelevers to be dropped to the full line position of Figure 2. Movement ofthe cross-head 19 is effected by the piston in the cylinder 12, thiscylinder being connected to a suitable compressed air supply by aconnection 31 and, a. manipulative control valve 32 is arranged toconnect 31 with either of branches 50 and 51 leading to the top andbottom of the cylinder respectively. The valve 32 is operated to movethe piston of the cylinder 12in either direction so as to either raiseor lower the crosshead' as desired.

The cylinder 10 is similarly provided with an air connection 33 and acontrol valve 34.

The operation of this device is as follows: The pigs 35 are cast insuitable pig molds 36 which may be mounted in gangs on the wheel orframe 37 of a suitable molding machine. The standard 1 is located sothat the cylinder 10 and the carrier may be positioned over the pigmolds 36' when they arrive at a suitable point in their travel, and withpairs of claws over and at the ends of the pigs as shown. When thecylinder has been so positioned, the valve 34: is op erated to lower thecarrier down onto the pig molds. During this operation the levers 23 areheld with their weighted ends in theraised, or dotted line position ofFigure 2,

this being accomplished by admission of air to the top of the cylinder12. The frame 17 may be provided with suitable guide arms 38 forpositioning the carrier with respect to the molds as indicated in Figure2. A suitable handle 39 mounted on brackets 40 on the side plates 16 mayalso be provided for manipulating the carrier.

When the carrier has been placed upon the molds and suitably positionedthereon with each pair of claws above a pig, the valve 32 is operated toadmit air to the bottom of the cylinder 12 so as to quickly raise thecross-head 19 in order to drop the weighted long arms of levers 23. Thefall-- ii'rg weights 26 will then cause the claws 28 to strike into andpenetrate the upper surface of the pigs, each being penetrated by a pairof claws. As energy has been stored in the raised weights 26,- as thelever arms 23 are long and as these weights accumulate considerablekinetic energy when falling, the impact will have the effect ofthrusting or driv ing the claws into the pigs. This action of thefalling weights is of course supplemented by the air pressure inthebottom of the cylin 28 iipon the pigs. It will be noted that theclaws are not only curved inwardly but that they move inwardly in arcsfrom the ends towards the middle of a pig; accordingly the pig will begrasped by these claws so that the former can be lifted out of its moldby raising the cylinder 13 and its at tached carrier, while the clawsmounted on and raised with the carrier maintained their firm grasp onthe pigs.

The valve 34; may now be operated to ad mit air under the piston in thecylinder 10 so as to raise the rod 11 and lift the carrier. As thecarrier is lifted, each pair of arms 23 retains a pig impaled upon thestakes or claws 28 and the pigs are lifted out of the molds as thecarrier rises. The carrier with a gang of pigs in its grasp is now swungon the standard 1 to a position where the pigs may be deposited on. asuitable stack 41. Upon arriving over the stack the Valve 34 isoperated. to. release the air from the cylinder 10 in order to permitthe" carrier to drop and deposit the pigs upon the stack. Thereupon thevalve 32 is operated to admit air to the top of the cylinder 12 in orderto lower the rod 18, thereby raising the arms 23 carrying the claws andreleasing the pigs. The pointed claws are short and stubby and are,accordingly, of suflicient stability to penetrate the pig, and theseclaws are mounted on the carrier so as to drop on and move by impactinto the pig in order to attach the same to the carrier while thiscarrier is sustained closely above the top face of the pig.

It will be clear, therefore, that this inven tion provides a convenientand effective machine for stacking pigs. The carrier is arranged formanipulation to be placed over the pigs in the molds and is adapted tobe positioned on the molds. The claws or stakes are then dropped so asto strike into the pigs to grasp the same, and the mechanism operates tomaintain the grasp while-the pigs are being lifted from the molds. Thepigs are then deposited on the stack and the grasp thereon released. Themechanism is such that the entire device can be handled by a singleoperator and various: movements performed properly, and with greataccuracy, so that a large quantity of work can be handled in a shorttime. The construction is such that all parts subject to wear arereadily renewable.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in details ofconstruction within the scope of the appended claims without departingfrom the spirit of this invention; it is, therefore, to be understoodthat this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shownand described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A device for handling pigs, comprising, a carrier, a pointed weightedclaw thereon adapted to work into the pig, and means for thrusting saidclaw into the pig in order to attach the same to said carrier.

2. A device for handling pigs, comprising, a carrier, a pointed clawadapted to penetrate the pig, means for mounting said claw on saidcarrier for movement towards the pig, and operating means connected withand for driving said claw by impact into the pig in order to attach thesame to said carrier.

3. A device for handling pigs, comprising, a carrier, a pointed clawadaptedto penetrate the pig, means for mounting said claw on saidcarrier for movement towards the pig, and operating means including aweight connected with and adapted to drive said claw into the pig inorder to attach the same to said carrier.

4:. A device for handling pigs, comprising, a carrier, a weighted clawadapted to pene trate the pig, means for raising said claw, means formounting said claw on said carrier for movement towards and from thepig, and means for causing said claw to drop upon the pig in order toattach the pig to said carrier.

5. A device for handling pigs, comprising, a carrier, a weighted claw onsaid carrier, means for swinging said claw to strike into and grasp thepig, and means for maintaining the grasp.

6. A device for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier, apointed claw of suflicient stability to penetrate the pig, means formounting said claw on said carrier so as to cause said claw to drop onand move by impact into the pig in order to attach the same to saidcarrier and means for withdrawing said claw from the pig.

7 A device {for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier, a pairof pointed claws of su'flicient stability to penetrate the pig, meansfor mounting said claws on said carrier so as to cause said claws todrop on and move.by impact into the ends of the pig in order to attachthe same: to said carrier and means for withdrawing said, claws from thepig.

8. A device for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier, a pairof pointed claws of suflicient stability to penetrate the pig, meanstfor mounting said claws on said carrier so as to cause said claws todropon and move by impact into the ends of the pig towards the middle inorder to attach the same to said carrier and means for withdrawing saidclaws from the pig.

9. A device for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier having afoot adapted to rest on the pig, a pointed claw of sufiicient stabilityto penetrate the pig, means for mounting said claw on said carrier tocause said claw to drop on and move by impact into the pig in order toattach the same to said carrier and means for withdrawing said claw fromthe pig.

10., A device for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier havinga footadapted to rest on the pig, a pair of pointed claws" rier so as tocause said claws to drop on the top face of the pig at the ends thereof,said claws being short and stubby in order to penetrate the pig so as toattach the same to said carrier and means for withdrawing said clawsfrom the pig.

12. A device for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier, a pairof pointed claws, means for mounting said claws on said carrier so as tocause said claws to drop on the 7 top face of the pig at the endsthereof while said carrier is sustained closely thereabove,

said claws being short and stubby in order to penetrate the pig so as toattach the same to said carrier and means for withdrawing said clawsfrom the pig.

13. A device for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier, apointed claw of sufficient stability to penetrate the pig, means on saidcarrier for mounting said claw so as to drop on and move by impact intothe pig in order to attach the same to said carrier, means for movingsaid claw towards the pig, and means for withdrawing said claw from thepig.

14. A device for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier, apointed claw of sufficient stability to penetrate the pig, means on saidcarrier for mounting said claw so as to drop on and move by impact intothe pig in order to attach the same to said carrier, means for holdingsaid claw raised above the pig, and means for permitting said claw todrop on and for moving said claw into the pig.

15. A device for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier, apointed claw of sufficient stability to penetrate the pig, means on saidcarrier for mounting said claw so as to drop on and move by impact intothe pig in order to attach the same to said carrier, fluid pressuremeans for raising said claw, and means for permitting said raised clawto drop.

16. A device for handling soft metal pigs, comprising, a carrier, apointed claw of sufficient stability to penetrate the pig, means on saidcarrier for mounting said claw so as to drop on and move by impact intothe pig in order to attach the same to said carrier, to drop on and moveby impact into the pig and means for raising said claw and for in orderto attach the same to said carrier, permitting the same to drop. andfluid pressure means for moving said 10 17 A device for handling softmetal pigs, claw to move towards and from the pig. 5 comprising, acarrier, a pointed claw of suf- In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature ficient stability to penetrate the pig, means this 22nd day ofJune, 1923. on said carrier for mounting said claw so as WILLIAM E.NEVVNAM.

